The 2002-03 El Niño phenomenon contributed to warming global temperatures, impacting weather patterns and ecosystems worldwide. This moderate to strong El Niño event led to varied regional effects, including droughts and floods in different parts of the globe. Understanding these climatic events is crucial for predicting future climate change and its implications for global weather systems.

The 2002-03 El Niño event, which warmed global temperatures, advanced early 21st-century climate poetry that emphasizes observable planetary shifts. Poets like Aimee Nezhukumatathil began to reflect on the changing environment, weaving personal narratives with broader ecological concerns in their verses.